Rock-drilling mechanism



f fw? 'ff 193530 May 27, 1930. E. G. GARTIN 1,760,354

ROCK DRILLING MECHANI SM Filed sept. 25. 1925 3W f Innen/20?.-

Patented May 27, 1930 l IIED STATES A ELITIIB. o. GABTIN, or CLAREMONT,Nnw HAMPSHIRE, AssICNon. To SULLIVAN MA- CHINEaY COMPANY, A CORPORATIONor MASSACHUSETTS Roon-DRILLINe MECHANISM Application med September 23,1925. Serial` No. 58,172.

This invention relates to rock drilling mechanisms vand moreparticularly an improved drill steel coupling means for such amechanism. l

Rockdrills of the mounted drifter type are especially adapted to use indrillingholes oi comparatively great depth. Such drills are usuallymounted for movement in a guideway supported on a Clamp or a tripod inthe usual manner and are provided with suitable feeding means foradvancing the drill steel as the cutting bit deepens the hole. Cleansingfluid, preferably inthe form of a mixture of air and water, is usuallyadmitted to the hollow drill steel by means of fluid conducting tubesextending through the drilling motor, and in certain instances pressurefluid is also taken from the motor cylinder to supplement this supply.When excessively deep holes are encountered it has been found that theamount of cleansing Huid supplied through these tubes and from the motorcylinder is inf.

sufficient to clear away the cuttings from the cutting bit, thusretarding the eiiiciency of the latter. In such deep hole drills whenthe drill reaches its forward feeding limit it is retracted from thework and the steel removed. A steel of longer length is then substitutedand the feeding again resumed, this operation being re eated until ahole of the requisite depth .is o tained.

The primary object ofthe present invention is to provide improvedcoupling means for attaching and detaching sections of the drill rods.Another object of this invention is to provide a rock drillespeciallyfadapted for drilling holes of relatively great depth andhaving improved hole cleansing means therefor. These and other objectswill, however, subsequently more fully appear.

In the preferred embodiment this invention may comprise a rock drill ofthe hammer type preferably mounted in aguiding frame for movementrelative thereto. The guiding frame may be supported on a column ortriod in a usual manner. Adrill rod section 1s preferably carried by arotatable chuck in the forward end of the drilling motor and thissection preferably is provided with a rear shank portion which issupported in position' to receive the impact blows of the hammerpiston.The forward end of this drill rod section is preferably provided with acoupling of improved form for receiving and clamping a corresponding rodsection in position. This improved coupling may be provided at theforward end of each adjacent drill rod section for permitting theattachment of additional sections as the cutting bit deepens the hole.Preferably arranged on the body of the drill rod section which isreceived in the motor chuck is a.swivel connection for cleansing fluidwhereby a mixture of air and water under pressure maybe forced throughthe dri" rod to the drill bit to clear away the cuttings therefrom. Morespecifically the improved drill rod coupling` may comprise'a threadedclamping and steel locking member which engages a correspondinglythreaded socket formed within the section of drill rod and this threadedclamping member is adapted-to engage the lugs of a cooperating drill rodsection to clamp the latter rigidly in position against a detachableabutment within the socket. -In the modified form of structure theclamping means may comprise alaterally adjustable clamping elementcarried by one rod section and which engages the adjacent rod section.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown for purposes of illustrationtwo forms which my invention may assume in practice.

In these drawings,-

Fig. 1 is aside elevation of a rock drilling mechanism incorporating oneillustrative embodiment of theinvention, the view being partially brokenaway in central longitudinal vertical-section to facilitateillustration.

Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section taken substantially `on line 2 2of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view -taken substantially on line3--3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is aV modified form of connecting means for the drill rodsections.

Fig. 5 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken substantially online 5-5 of Fig. 4.

In the illustrative -embodiment of my invention shown in Figs. 1 to 3,inclusive, I have shown a rock drill of the drifter` type generallydesignated 1 which comprises a motor cylinder 2 within which a usualhammer piston is reciprocable. As illustrated; the hammer piston isprovided w1th a forwardly projecting striking bar 3 having the usualstraight and spiral flutes or grooves 4 formed on its outer peripheryand these grooves are adapted to cooperate with a usual ratchet and pawlmechanism, generally designated 5 in a well known manner. The ratchetand'pawl mechanism 5 is adapted to transmlt intermittent rotary movementfrom the strlking bar 3 to a chuck 6 suitably carried within the forwardend of the drill and this chuck receives a usual chuck bushing 7 withinwhich is supported the solid shank 8 of a drill steel section 9.Suitably clutched as at 10 to the forward end of the chuck 6 is a usualsteel locking and driving member 11 having lugs 12 formed thereon whichare adapted to cooperate with lateral lugs 13 formed on. the

f shank portion of the drill steel section 9 in the usual manner.

From the foregoing description it will be evident that the hammer pistonis adapted to impart a serles of 1 mpact blows to the shank of the drillsection 9 and to rotate the latter intermittently. It will hereinfurther be observed that the rock Hdrill 1 is slidablymounted in a usualguiding mechanism (not shown) in a well known manner. As shown theguideway 14 is provided with a suitable base 15 which is adapted to beclamped in position on a usual column or tripod.

In my improved construction it will herein be noted that the drill steelsection 9 is provided with an enlarged cylindrical body portion 16having a plurality of laterally extending longitudinally spaced passages17 and a communicating longitudinal forwardly extending centralpassage18 through which cleansing fluid may be supplied to the cutting bit ashereinafter described. In accordance with this invention the forward endof the body portion 16 is provided withv a further enlarged portion 19having an internally threaded bore 20 and a'reduced bore 21 openingtherein.' As shown disposed within the bore 21 is a hardened steelwasher or button 22 having a central opening 23 extending longitudinallytherethrough and communieating with the passage 18 in the body portion16. It will herein be noted that the opening 23 is threaded in suchmanner as to receive a suitable tool for removing the button 22 from thebore 21. lAs illustrated, cooperating with vthe threaded bore 20 is a`clamping and locking member 24 externally threaded as at 25 and havinglaterally projecting lugs 26 which are adapted to be engaged by a.wrench or 'other suitable device for rotating the member 24. It willherein be noted that in this instance the clamping member 24 is providedat its forward end with an opening 27 of a shape corresponding to thesame general contour of lateral lugs 28 which are formed on the shankportion 29 of a hollow rod section 30, the latter being provided with a.usual cutting bit 31. As shown, formed within the clamping member 24 isa suitable socket 32 and inwardly projecting lugs 33 the latter of whichare ada ted to cooperate with the lateral lugs 28 ormed on erallydesignated 34. As this connection 34 is the invention of one Edward E.Miller and disclosed by him in Patent Number 1,704,053, granted March 5,1929, detailed description of the same is deemed unnecessary except tostate that a casing 35 is provided having at each end thereof adjustableuid tight stuifing boxes 36 and a lateral inlet connection 37 throughwhich cleansing fluid, herein preferably a mixture of air and water, isadapted to be admitted and hence through the lateral passages 17 andcommunicating passage .18, the passage 23 in the button 22, and throughthe bore of the hollow drill steel section 30 to the cutting bit 31toclear away the cuttin s therefrom.

n the use of the form of my invention shown in Figs. 1 to 3 it willherein be noted that lirst the rod section 9 is inserted in positionwithin the forward end of the rock drill and turned and locked thereinby the driver or locking member 11 in a well known manner. The shank 29and lugs 28 of the rod section 30 are then inserted within the opening27 in the clamping member 24 and-then laterally turned, thus locking thelugs of the drill steel in the socket 32 and preventing longitudinaldisplacement of the rod section therefrom. The clamping member 24 isthen rotated by engaging the lateral lugs 26 formed thereon by a wrenchor other suitable device, thus causing the same to press against 4theforward surface of the lugs 28 and resultantly forcing the rear surfaceof the shank 29 int`o A,tight engagement with the hardened steel button22. The rod section 9 and the rod section 30 are then adapted to berotated and percussively actuated as a unit, the stuffing boxes 36 ofthe swivel connection 34 .preventing leakage of cleansing fluid at thattime as it flows through the rod sections to the drill bit. i

In the modified form -of myl invention shown in Figs. 4 and 5 the bodyportion 16 of the rod section 9 is provided with an enlarged portion 38having an opening 39 at its forward end through which the shank 29 andthe lugs 28 of the rod section 30 are adapted to be inserted. As'illustrated, formed within the forward end of the portion 38 is a socket40 and inwardly project-l ing lugs, not shown, similar to the lugs 33'in the member 24 heretofore described. The lugs 28 are likewise adaptedto be turned and locked within the socket 40. As shown, formed in theenlarged portion 38 at the rear ofthe socket 40 is a bore 41 in the rearend of which is disposed a hardened steel button or washer y42 similarto the lbutton 2 2. Formed between the ends of the bore 41 is anenlarged bore 43 opening laterally as at 44 through the side of theportion 38. Disposed within the bore 43 is a cylindrical member 45having a laterally projecting threaded por-- tion- 46 by whichy anadjustable nut 47 is carried. Engaging the side of the body portion 38and closing the opening 44 is a member 48 with which the nut 47cooperates.

In the use of this form of my invention after the drill section 30 hasbeen inserted within the opening 40 in the enlarged por` tion 38 of thedrill section 9 and locked therein by the lugs 28 the nut 47 engagingthe threaded portion 446 is tightened causing the shank 29 of thesection 30 to be rigidly clamped in position in the bore 41 with therear surface thereof engaging the button 42, thus permitting the rodsections 9 and 30 to be percussively actuated and rotated by the hammerpiston as a unit. In this form of my invention cleansing fluid likewiseflows from the swivel connection 34 through the passage 18, the hollowbutton 42, and the hollow rod section 30 to the cutting bit 31 tocleanse the cuttings therefrom.

As a result of my invention it will be noted that an improved rock drillis provided especially adapted for drilling holes of relatively greatdepth and having improved means for coupling the drill rod sectionstogether and for cleansing the drill hole. It will further be noted thatimproved drill steel coupling connections are provided which may beadapted to a rock drill of standard lform with a minimum of change andexpense.

These and other advantages will be clearly apparent to those skilled inthe art.

' While I have in this application specifically described two formswhich my invention may assume in practice, it will be understood thatthese forms of the same are shown for purposes of illustration and thatthe invention may be modified and embodied in various other formswithout departing from its spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

transmit rotation to the lugs of a drill steel,

said recess having a forward opening pro-- vided with slots having sidewalls out of alinement with the shoulders, and cooperat ing threads onsaid rod sections and member whereby rotation of said chuck-like memberwill effect a .rigid clamping of said steel and member to said rodsection.

2. In an apparatus for supporting and rotating a hollow lugged drillsteel, an axially ported member having an internally threaded socketwith a recess at the inner end of said socket, a washer at the inner endof said socket positioned for engagement by the butt end of a drillsteel, and a' cooperating member having in the forward end thereof arecess provided with shoulders to engage and What I claim as new anddesire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Mechanism for supporting and rotatin a hollow lugged drill steelcomprising a ro section having 'a longitudinal passage therethrough anda socket at the end thereof, a member Xed in the inner end of saidsocket positioned for engagement with the butt end

